January 1, 1970

Churchill stoutly defended the government’s position – and urged unity – in a passionate speech in the House of Commons: ‘Let pre-war feuds die; let personal quarrels be forgotten, and let us keep our hatreds for the common enemy’ (7 May 1940). Others were more critical of the Prime Minister: Leo Amery famously said ‘In the name of God, Go!’

But the damage was done; Chamberlain’s position in power, which he had held since 1937, was over. He resigned on 10 May, the day that German forces attacked British and French ground forces; the invasion of Western Europe had begun. The ‘phoney war’ was over.